Abstract

Model M7f is a new model for fiber reinforced concretes under static and dynamic loads,
which features two kinds of improvement over the earlier versions: (1) It is built on M7,
a new, greatly improved, microplane model for plain concrete; and (2) it includes a more
realistic description of the fiber pullout and breakage. The former include: (a) the absence
of volumetric deviatoric split of elastic strains, which eliminates excessive lateral expansions
or contractions and stress locking in far post-peak extensions; (b) simulation of the
differences between hydrostatic compression and uniaxial compression under rigid lateral
confinement; and (c) high shear dilatancy of low strength concretes; and realistic description
of unloading, reloading and load cycles, even if they cross between tension and compression.
The latter includes an improved continuous dependence of the effect of fibers on
the fiber volume fraction. The fiber resistance is a function of the strain representing the
average opening of cracks of given spacing and, as in model M5f, a horizontal plateau as
a function of the type of fiber and fiber volume fraction has been employed and used systematically
for all fits. In this study, this horizontal plateau is justified using uniformly distributed
crack bridging fibers. The model behavior is calibrated and verified by fitting of the
main test data from the literature. The match of experimental observations and the computational
results is closer than in the previous models.